As an autistic adult who occasionally suffers from meltdowns, the fact that Emmet's parents give him the space to safely work through his meltdowns is so touching to see. When a meltdown happens, sometimes you just need to ride it out and you feel much better afterwards. It's wonderful that they are able to give Emmet a chance to work through overwhelming feelings even though he engages in self-injurious behaviors. I also want to applaud the parents for their understanding of autism and for having a realistic and grounded perspective on the disorder. That's such an important part of parenting autistic kids! 👏👏👏
i couldn’t agree more 🩷 i’m also an autistic adult and personally that’s exactly what i need. i don’t always understand my own meltdowns but i just need to cry it out sometimes to feel better.
I loved how the parents made a sensory spot for the kids if they wanted to touch the aquarium on TV! They are working very hard and dedicating their lives to their children, which really touches me. I wonder what it’s like for the children to meet a new person… I’m also curious if there’s any schooling in the home? I’m not sure how that works when it comes to kids who are high on the spectrum, but they sure are special.
A lot of parents of autistic children are autistic themselves, so they have a natural understanding of how to assist their children. Most of my family is autistic, and we all knew how to support each other naturally.
@@foggy922 They just had no clue how to raise normal offspring. So ended up eith the same defect that their own skill-less parents formed in them inadvertedly.
Couldn’t “even” handle, yeh sorry you’re a teacher you get to go home and have your weekends and holidays, it’s not 24:7 for you so who are you to comment
the dad of this family is one of the most well adjusted people ive ever seen! good on him for prioritizing the mental health of himself and everyone else around!
I'm on the autism spectrum myself, and grew up with parents who would often get angry with me or punish me if I acted 'autistic', and I just gotta say that it's wonderful to see a family who is so understanding and respectful about their kids' special needs. The comment about how the boys are gonna face enough hardship as it is, without having to struggle in their own home, really hit me hard. I wish all parents of autistic children could see it that way!
I feel you. I also got punished for my autistic behaviours, though to my parents' defense, nobody knew I was autistic, my parents didn't even know autism.. this makes it a little easier for me now but even if they didn't know, scolding a kid that's clearly overwhelmed and anxious isn't ever the right way to react, autistic or not. We need more parents like these in the video.
I felt this in my bones. My son is autistic, high needs, nonverbal. Very similar to these boys. Our lives revolve around him. When he thrives, so do we. I also agree with mom that very little, if any, representation is shown in media of this part of the spectrum. The closest one I’ve seen is The Reason I Jump. Granted I haven’t been able to watch much because I’m a busy mom. But the representation is severely lacking. And positive, neurodivergent affirming therapies are like trying to find a needle in a haystack. The loneliness you can encounter as a special needs parent and the loneliness and alienation our children experience, is at times, bone crushing. So many thanks to you guys for doing these interviews. It helps to know that we’re not so alone.
I totally agree with everything you said. I am a mom of a nonverbal 16 year old boy. The loneliness for yourself and your child is something that is not talked about often. It's definitely a different life than most people can relate to.
Having been raised in the military, I can tell you that the upside of dad being a Marine is that all health care for the twins is 100% covered. And thank you for your service. 🇺🇲
^Personally knew a family like this while living near Ft. Meade and its very true. and its def not great for parents who didn't serve bc they don't get nearly enough help like they truly need. Like State care is not nearly as helpful as they sell it to you.@@Imjustkendall
That mother seems completely defeated and mentally exhausted. My heart breaks for her and her struggles. I applaud the patience and resilience of these parents.
What lovely parents and grandfather. My husband is autistic and was a medic in the USN. One of my adult sons is autistic and is probably the most intelligent person I have met, but needs a lot of quiet and alone time. All people, regardless of who they are, are individuals and need to be treated as such. I have enormous respect for the adults doing such a wonderful job of helping these boys be themselves.
These parents are so awesome. I work with kids who have autism, so I'm very used to seeing and hearing about a lot of these behaviors. A lot of the time, it's really hard for parents to "admit" their kids have SIBs or aggressions, because they project their own moral feelings onto it. It's nice to see parents that are talking so openly about it and just being like yeah this is how it is. I also think it's important for parents to be able to say "yeah, it's hard caring for a kiddo with special needs, and that's okay." But so many parents don't ever feel like they can say anything like that.
yeah, there's a mom in my son's class who is a pediatrician and her son is solidly on the spectrum. hits, bites, spits, destroys property. she adamantly refuses to publicly admit her son is on the spectrum because she just can't handle the shame. I'm pretty much like, "sweetie, stop trying to hide it. the WHOLE world knows and your kid will be better off if you stop trying to pretend he's NT" but she just can't deal.
@@cometasporelcielobut it's not a "shame", having a son on the spectrum, or with disabilities in general: it's hard, of course, but if you feel ashamed of your kid, it means you feel guilty. And your kid is not a fault: is just a human being with special needs. I work with kids with special needs too, and I've seen parents who fiercely deny that their son/daughter has a disability; parents who think that they can "fix" their kid with therapies; parents stressed, exhausted, who can't manage that situation and doesn't have a supportive partner, or whose partner has left long time before and doesn't care at all. But there are also parents who are understanding, loving, caring, despiting of the difficult condition: they carry on with strenght and resilience, and, overall, they ask for help and aren't alone.
This is one of those times I'd love to see an extreme home makeover happen. This family could benefit from soo much. I love that they've made their home really kid oriented.
I LOVE the calm area in the bus. No matter where they go, they're safe to be themselves and do what they need to do. Massive props to mom, dad, and grandpa for making everything safe and accessible to the boys. My sister was diagnosed over 20 years ago. Back then therapies and schools really worked to make the kids act "normal." I always hated it and was glad when we stopped trying to force that on her. Her needs are different, but they should be allowed and met. I'm so happy to see kids today getting much more acceptance and better treatments.
Things were much worse for autistic kids back then. I can attest to that, my grade school teachers tried to shame me in front of the class for my meltdowns. In middle school, I became so aggressive that they wanted to send me to a school for delinquents, but thankfully my mom had me sent to a school with an autism program and my behavior dramatically improved.
those parents are abusers, they abuse by overprotection. You are doing to same to a lesser extent. Read Empty fortress and understand what you are doing to your child.
@@consumer614 what are you talking about? do you want them to hurt themselves or run outside and get run over by a car? they are doing their best to support their kids.
Sooo much respect for these parents. I have a high functioning son who was very nonverbal in the early days and ut was very hard having twins doubles it. Soo much respect and love for your family. Your sons are a special gift, my son is now 12 and as challenging as its been i wouldnt change a moment of it.
@@anonymous-bb2dw I'm autistic too- to me the terms higher and lower support needs makes more sense and fits me better but Im now realizing it might not fit everybody so thank you!/gen /nm
@@anonymous-bb2dwthere is because it's offensive for us that have been humiliated our whole lives for being "low functioning" and so many other things.
@@olioccasionallyanimates27I've seen a lot of medium and high support needs autistic just like myself that don't like functioning labels. They're just a way to segregate us from "useful" autistics, because for others, higher support needs makes us a waste.
You two should write a book or give seminars. You are both very articulate, organized, and practical. A great resource for others. It does take a team. Hugs to grandpa - he's living out his love for you.
These parents could be educators for other people learning about autism. Bravo to them for finding solutions and a safe environment for their children to grow up and learn. Kids don't come with manuals, yet these parents have loving worked hard to provide such a nurturing space. Amazing job, my hats are off to them
What an awesome family with two beautiful boys and BADASS parents! This father is a Marine AND a special needs dad? Wooo! These parents and grandfather deserve the World! Dominc and Emmet are so blessed!
I work with people with autism and other mental/intellectual disabilities. I think appropriate communication is one of the biggest challenges to approach. It's wonderful to see a family that has a safe area and audible buttons (alternative PECS), and it's especially encouraging to see that they are working toward being able to express emotions using icons/buttons. I hope for good things in Dominic and Emmet's development, and I wish for patience, love, and curiosity for their parents and all those who support them.
As a 54-year-old autistic woman only diagnosed 2 years ago, as we say: If you've met one person with Autism, you've met one person with Autism. My 9-yr-old Aspie nephew and I are incredibly different yet amazingly the same. ASD lets me live life more deeply than most of the population ever will, but it needs ALOT of mental and physical downtime as a result. I would love to follow Emmet and Dom's lives---thank you for letting us meet them and their amazing parents, Chris!
but does it really let you live more deeply? more richly? my parents and my two cousins are all on the spectrum and this is so obviously a net negative for them in spite of some positives that I refuse to have biological children. I will not inflict this on them.
aspie is an inaccurate term there is no way a 9 year old could be diagnosed with Asperger's it has not been a thing for the last 9 years also that term is offensive to the community
There are different levels of support needs depending on where on the spectrum an individual is. As an autistic woman myself with other neurodevelopmental disabilities and comorbid diagnosis - my also neurospicy husband and I decided early on (individually and solidified further once together) that children are not for us as we wouldn't be able to handle any of what comes with raising typical children, let alone the additional requirements of potentially having a high supports need child. I agree with the commenter that being a fairly low supports need autistic person (previously aspergers) brings a unique perspective and richness to life however society is yet to catch up on being all round inclusive and making it an enjoyable experience for me to interact with the world in a way that is viable for the highly sensitive person with neurological and sensory differences.
@@NeurospicyBee :) Thanks for the support, Bee! As a side note, my son is indeed on the spectrum, but we all try our best to manage together. Husband is NT.
Wow. This family has left me speechless. How amazing are they?!? I am enamored with how they have completely changed their lives and home to benefit the safety and well being of the boys. What incredible humans
These little boys are beautiful. They are so fortunate to have such intelligent, loving, and well-informed parents. I wish all 5 of you the best. Thank you for sharing your life with us.
I really liked the interview! Emmet and Dominic have their own individual uniqueness and the parents are really amazing for accommodating all their needs, from safe spaces to communication buttons to bus and so on!
These are 2 really incredible loving parents. The dedication they have put into providing a good environment for their kids is awesome. These are people who have thought outside the box countless times to come up with a solution to make their & their kids lives easier. Also mad respect to the grandpa to step up and help them out. The fact that he has prior experience with special needs kids is just that much more perfect. Their kids may not fulfill the dreams and goals they originally hoped for but I think helping their kids develop and learn over the years will be much more rewarding to them in the long run.
I saw someone the other day saying that autistic people all generally have the same symptoms and I couldn't help but wildly disagree. As someone with autism, I can say I am nothing like my other autistic friends yet I am also very similar too. The list of symptoms for autism is so long and vast and, even then, we all experience and show symptoms in different ways. It annoys me when people think we are all the same because we are some of the most diverse people but we are all joined by one disorder which I think makes us feel like one big family.
It's right and it's wrong in a way. Yes we all have similar stuff in common because we have the same disorder, so you have to have key similarities with another person with the disorder to be diagnosed with the disorder, but there is also a lot of variation within autism. That makes autism a difficult disorder for people to understand, in fact you can understand one part of the autism spectrum but be clueless about another part of the autism spectrum. Autistic people can be so different from each other that they practically have different disabilities. There are whole aspects of autism that some autistic people don't even have Some people don't even have a trace of common symptoms, like co ordination and balance difficulties and others who do. For some people, they can process the sensory environment just fine most of the time, but certain things are too much, or certain emotions will make it hard to deal with it and others just have problems processing their sensory environment all the time. Some people are very good at copying what other people do in social environments and then use that to try to fit in and there are others who don't try to do this to fit in and aren't as good at doing it when they do try.
I learned from Devon Price’s book, Unmasking Autism, that the physical structure of neurotypical brains (specifically the ways different parts are connected to each other) tend to be fairly similar to each other (all else being equal), but autistic brains are much more varied. They share the fact that they deviate from the neurotypical norm, but each autistic brain differs from that norm in different ways.
Those parents are so well eduvated and well spoken. They really educate you about all the trials of being a parent. They are exceptional in their love for their family and devotion and dedication to being the best they can be. I am in aw of them and wish I were such as lovely a person as each of them are. 24:52
What a gorgeous family. I LOVE how it's a team effort with grandpa being there. I wish more of us abided by "it takes a village." Not just for kids that might need extra support, but for all of us. I'm an autistic adult who had a really hard time during childhood. My mom was completely alone, taking care of me, and I was A LOT. Growing up in Eastern Europe where mental health wasn't a thing, this poor woman had to deal with me being kicked out of kindergarten my first week of being there. Cue to school, where I refused to sit down and would be pacing up and down the back of the classroom. She didn't even know what autism was. She'd get weekly calls from teachers blaming her for not keeping me in check because "how can someone with straight As be so mean and defiant to teachers?!" They would threaten me with expulsion and call it her fault for not knowing to "keep me in check" and not teach me basic civics. What strong and wonderful parents these people are for focusing on the utter joy and awe those kids have towards life. I see so much of myself in those kids. From the instinct to bash myself against something to "make it better" to the fascination of moving around and processing thoughts through roaming. Every single person in this video is a gem and I wish them the bestest of the best in this world :)
Hi Dominic! Hi Emmet! Your video was awesome, I loved it. You guys are so lucky, I really wish I had a twin but I don’t. I got so bored growing up, but you two always have someone to do stuff with. That must be great on rainy days haha. Thank your mom and dad too, because their insight into situations like yours can be very helpful to other moms and dads in similar circumstances. They seem like excellent, thoughtful parents.
I have a 3 yro and and 5 yro. Both autistic boys. They go in separate directions and do not play with each other. I am learning to understand who they are. But boy mamma needs some zen more than you know. This is definitely a hard life but your channel also gives me awareness that life could be worse. But the struggle is real!
This family is doing an awesome job! What struck me the most is the dad talking about his journey through being stubborn, how the kids can “read” his mood coming in from work, and adjustments he’s made to his mental health to change things. That is hard for any adult to do (!) but more-so a parent with 2 busy boys with ASD.
What this mother said about autism being represented on TV is exactly how I feel. I completely agree with her. My daughter has autism and I have never seen anything in a movie or TV show that comes close to what her autism looks like. This mother really said it well. My heart goes out to these parents. I know how hard it is with one child with autism I can't imagine having two. 😔 💙
This family deserves respite - given the severity of the twins' behavior they may be afraid to leave the children in the care of another. But boy - do they ever deserve it!
THIS is helpful representation! My son is 4 and level 2 autistic, so I am thankful that he doesn't self harm or have trouble eating, but his comprehension of spoken language is like a 1 year old. I love my son and I enjoy seeing what autism looks like in other children, so thank you! ❤
The dad's perspective about how becoming a dad has helped him in the Marines is very admirable to me. Patience is so important and intertwined with kindness
I am totally sensitive to noise and light as well. I am not autistic, but i totally empathize with you. People don't always understand how disturbing it can be to us. I live in a gated condo community, and one thing i love to do to chill at night, is to take a walk and look at the sky. And I really dislike my phone! Thank you for Emmett and Dominic and their wonderful family for sharing their inspiring story with the community.
What fantastic parents. They are absolutely amazing people. I truly hope they stay so positive and I am so glad that the grandfather is there to help. ❤
Im autistic (low support needs) but I DO get overstimulated. If I had an extra room in my house, I’d make it a calm room. Paint the walls lavender or blue, have a cushioned chair, some glitter jars (voss bottles), a dedicated playlist for calming down, and fidget toys, and a sensory swing (designed for 110-130 lbs)
@@svetavinogradova4243They have autism, and that is the only way to keep them calm. If you actually had a doctor’s license, then you would be able to say that. My stepmother is in the medical field and knows very well not to abuse children, like you think is ‘correct.’
I've seen it work the other way as well and lead to breaking up loving families due to poverty issues or misunderstanding's . I also think that having a SWAT team break in to unsuspecting homes can be traumatic and unnecessary .
*in a perfect world. That is a much needed asterisk to your statement. Especially in smaller cities, rural areas, and poorer communities, those in children's and family services do not have proper experience and / or knowledge of disabilities, neurodivergence, and mental illness. My autistic cousin was taken from my aunt specifically because my aunt asked for help. He couldn't handle school, and there was only one school in town. Next town that did have a school geared towards autistic and disabled children was an hour and a half drive away. Which for a single mom in a poor rural community with a severely autistic son, not exactly a realistic option. So she asked for help getting him special accommodations. The case worker did not understand why she didn't just force him to go to school with no aides or accommodations. Why she had taken him out of the incredibly abusive and controversial ABA therapy the only therapist in town offered. Why she didn't have a dining table, or why she had a massive gate on the entrance to her kitchen. All of these things that any parent of a severely autistic child could tell you immediately were her doing the best for her child, were deemed as neglect. My cousin was adopted TWICE by very wealthy families. One in the nearest big city, one in a nearby rural area. Both abused him quite openly. We were only able to get him back to us after the second family's mother beat him so severely with his own walking aide, there was no saying he fell down the stairs due to toe walking for the umpteenth time. He now has a permanent phsyical disability, and both him and my aunt have severe ptsd. It took a long time and a lot of PROPER therapy to make it so they could both do things independently. Because for a good near decade, they would BOTH have a meltdown if separated.
@@Dizzydollie7 I can’t speak for the American system but here in the UK each Local Authority has a children services disabled children’s team which provides various support services such as short term breaks in the form of fun activities for the disabled child to overnight care so parents can have a break. I know this as I was a Social Worker in such a team.
In theory, yes, but those services are also very flawed and have a pechant for either separating the parents from their kids or doing nothing at all to help.
I was a TA for special education and I absolutely loved the feeling of being able to make an impact on children’s education and also to be able to help their families by allowing them to trust me with their children. It’s hard finding people to trust watch your children especially special needs. I believe we all have our own quirks and sensory needs/dislikes. Thank you for sharing, god bless your family!
As a teacher of children with special needs, his comment of how your energy is 100 percent read by kids with special needs is spot on. They can spot negativity or anything going on inside you instantly more than anyone one
I am currently crying right now. This is such a beautiful video with sweet kids. I have autism as well and these kids need extra care. I used to need extra care but I don’t anymore. I also used to not speak but now I can speak.
A lot of respect for these parents. They give up so much to create the best possible life for their kids. I’m glad they got through the difficult times in their marriage, they seem like a very good team
Bless their hearts. They are adapting , educating themselves, and given the whole family dynamic the best quality of life possible. I applaud them for being so invested in giving their children all the tools that they know to keep every element as neutral sane as possible. I’m a single widowed mother with an autistic and severely epileptic child, born with an extremely rare gene mutation. Diagnosed at 4 with Autism. This video gives me great ideas of how to set the home up for success. My son is fortunately verbal, 9 years old, and can use 3-4 word sentences. I applaud the Marine father. As I am a disabled Veteran of Foreign War, from the tour in Iraq, April 2003, as a Combat Medic. I was honorably discharged with PTSD, General Anxiety, ADHD, and Chronic Depression. I’m a Sensitive Parent/Person raising a Sensitive Child. His diagnoses of Epilepsy, Autism, ADHD, and Hypothyroidism, exacerbates my diagnoses. The VA has been extremely helpful for helping me gently medicate as to not make me overmedicated, yet able to minimize my triggers he may cause. It’s no easy battle, raising an autistic child, in general, but especially coming from a military service, and then single. Again, I applaud this family 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. His and my individual therapies has been the best investment of all. Being in specialists. It’ll make the life easier and gives all parties a better quality of life. Thank you for documenting this and other’s with special needs. It gives validation, education, and depth to the full awareness of each family’s unique struggles and also the beauty of it 💖
I feel these parents have grown being With their twins. I believe it takes very committed and willing parents to walk this very difficult path and to see such devotion. No question, my parents, would have institutionalized me. Very intense symptomoligy in both kids. So glad you are there in such a meaningful way. ❤❤❤❤❤
This is the most beautiful family. These parents are so incredible. I have a son with autism and know the struggles. To see the space they have created for these two amazing boys its such an awesome sight.❤
What a tremendously devoted family. Thankyou for sharing your skills at being there for each other individually. Loved hearing your story. All the very best for the future Janice 👵 🇬🇧 xxx
I'm not in a similar situation whatsoever, but there's some much I learn from listening to strong, well-spoken emotionally intelligent and resilient parents like these. You have two beautiful boys. Thank you for sharing your story ❤
Mom & Dad you guys are just simply amazing parents and people. Dominic and Emmett you were the luckiest boys. You have a great support system forever. Kudos to Pap for being an amazing person also.
I work with adults and kiddos that have crisis level behavioral issues. I love seeing self injurious behavior being explained. Crisis is exhausting for everyone involved and a very real part of supporting some individuals. I love seeing this family normalizing protective personal equipment and be honest about meltdowns and aggressive behavior. They kids arent "bad", theyre struggling to navigate their own emotions and sensory regulations. Absolute Rockstar parents and I hope you guys keep advocating for individuals with crisis level responses. So many are written off so fast.
Ahh I love this family! I have an 8yr old son with autism as well. You two really inspired me! I especially love the set up of your home and will definitely be looking into incorporating more elements into our home for him. I actually feel ki da bad for not doing any of this wonderful stuff, we have a ton of "kid toys" he barely plays with. But making the home more sensory friendly and "fun" for him seems like the way to go. Thank you for sharing your family ❤
I have a child with autism and I love her more than anything but never in my life have I had to prioritize alone time more than I do now and that’s ok. It’s ok to need alone time and it’s healthy to balance your life in that way, it makes you a better and more patient parent in the end. ❤
I'm 18 years old and I have autism. I've had autism as long as I can remember, but I remember when I was younger, I hated my autism. I didn't want to be stereotyped by other kids I went to school with. But as I got older, I felt comfortable sharing about my autism cause I felt like people would realize I'm just another kid despite my autism.
First of all I would like to say thank you to family for there service to this country I can’t imagine how hard it must be on them sometimes raising two boys with special needs and being in the military much respect to them and I also it’s extremely beautiful that they created a safe space for there children to be safe during a meltdown
Thank you for everything you’ve done throughout the years, I’ve followed you since day one and loved each and every interview. Such support, love! I learned so much! I wish children of Palestine had such support these days, at the same time I am watching your interviews that give me so much hope that world is not bad but then I see we can’t all have such support and my heart breaks again. Please keep up the good work and all my love to this family. 🙏💙
These people are what I strive to be. My autistic kiddos are 9&4. Supports needs are night and day between them both and I try my best to educate myself on their needs and supply tools and a calm or stimulating environment.
As an autistic adult who occasionally suffers from meltdowns, the fact that Emmet's parents give him the space to safely work through his meltdowns is so touching to see. When a meltdown happens, sometimes you just need to ride it out and you feel much better afterwards. It's wonderful that they are able to give Emmet a chance to work through overwhelming feelings even though he engages in self-injurious behaviors. I also want to applaud the parents for their understanding of autism and for having a realistic and grounded perspective on the disorder. That's such an important part of parenting autistic kids! 👏👏👏
i couldn’t agree more 🩷 i’m also an autistic adult and personally that’s exactly what i need. i don’t always understand my own meltdowns but i just need to cry it out sometimes to feel better.
I loved how the parents made a sensory spot for the kids if they wanted to touch the aquarium on TV! They are working very hard and dedicating their lives to their children, which really touches me. I wonder what it’s like for the children to meet a new person… I’m also curious if there’s any schooling in the home? I’m not sure how that works when it comes to kids who are high on the spectrum, but they sure are special.
I applaud you both as awesome parents who go above and beyond 24/7 for your kids!!!!!
Being autistic isnt a disorder
@@CynderWolff It's literally called Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism isn't a disease, but it is a disorder. Nothing wrong with that.
Respect to the moms dad. He raised her by himself and now helps with these boys. A really good man
As a retired teacher I saw parents that couldn’t even handle the stress of one autistic child let alone 2 . These parents are phenomenal.
Absolutely agree. Inadequate parenting and Munchausen by proxy.
Hello
A lot of parents of autistic children are autistic themselves, so they have a natural understanding of how to assist their children.
Most of my family is autistic, and we all knew how to support each other naturally.
@@foggy922 They just had no clue how to raise normal offspring. So ended up eith the same defect that their own skill-less parents formed in them inadvertedly.
Couldn’t “even” handle, yeh sorry you’re a teacher you get to go home and have your weekends and holidays, it’s not 24:7 for you so who are you to comment
the dad of this family is one of the most well adjusted people ive ever seen! good on him for prioritizing the mental health of himself and everyone else around!
Absolutely agree
I'm on the autism spectrum myself, and grew up with parents who would often get angry with me or punish me if I acted 'autistic', and I just gotta say that it's wonderful to see a family who is so understanding and respectful about their kids' special needs. The comment about how the boys are gonna face enough hardship as it is, without having to struggle in their own home, really hit me hard. I wish all parents of autistic children could see it that way!
A beautiful comment. Thank you
Same exact my grandma would compare me to my younger cousins cus they were able to do things I couldn’t I wasn’t diagnosed until 20 I’m also dyslexic
@@JunaidWolf3yup I get compared to a child all the time
I feel you. I also got punished for my autistic behaviours, though to my parents' defense, nobody knew I was autistic, my parents didn't even know autism.. this makes it a little easier for me now but even if they didn't know, scolding a kid that's clearly overwhelmed and anxious isn't ever the right way to react, autistic or not.
We need more parents like these in the video.
@@SeiraTempestsame 😭😭😭
You just saved us, my autistic son's life is about to be so much better!
This is why I love this channel. Because it gives parents new ideas to try. I hope it work!
Bless!!!!🫶
I am so happy for you that you learned something that will benefit your child's and family's lives. Peace, love, and joy.
good luck and blessings for your family ❤
I think its important to show how challenging parenting children with disabilites can be. These parents are so strong.
Those parentshave no clue about proper parenting, and are anti-parents. Ruin their kids' future completely.
@@consumer614wtf?
@@consumer614you need jail time, you clearly are some sort of child abuser. Yet you call them abusers.
"Who wants to be judged on their worst day, you know?" What great boys raised by selfless, accepting, loving parents!
I felt this in my bones. My son is autistic, high needs, nonverbal. Very similar to these boys. Our lives revolve around him. When he thrives, so do we. I also agree with mom that very little, if any, representation is shown in media of this part of the spectrum. The closest one I’ve seen is The Reason I Jump. Granted I haven’t been able to watch much because I’m a busy mom. But the representation is severely lacking. And positive, neurodivergent affirming therapies are like trying to find a needle in a haystack. The loneliness you can encounter as a special needs parent and the loneliness and alienation our children experience, is at times, bone crushing. So many thanks to you guys for doing these interviews. It helps to know that we’re not so alone.
I hear you, mama! You are not alone in these feelings 🖤
I totally agree with everything you said. I am a mom of a nonverbal 16 year old boy. The loneliness for yourself and your child is something that is not talked about often. It's definitely a different life than most people can relate to.
Having been raised in the military, I can tell you that the upside of dad being a Marine is that all health care for the twins is 100% covered.
And thank you for your service. 🇺🇲
Not always :/
my dad was a marine and most of my healthcare is covered but not all…
^Personally knew a family like this while living near Ft. Meade and its very true. and its def not great for parents who didn't serve bc they don't get nearly enough help like they truly need. Like State care is not nearly as helpful as they sell it to you.@@Imjustkendall
That mother seems completely defeated and mentally exhausted. My heart breaks for her and her struggles. I applaud the patience and resilience of these parents.
💯
the parents have a separate peace when have little autists
What lovely parents and grandfather. My husband is autistic and was a medic in the USN. One of my adult sons is autistic and is probably the most intelligent person I have met, but needs a lot of quiet and alone time. All people, regardless of who they are, are individuals and need to be treated as such. I have enormous respect for the adults doing such a wonderful job of helping these boys be themselves.
These parents have my sympathy! What a task which with to be charged!!
My adult son is autistic. His worst disability is sensory integration/ hypersensitivity. Every Autistic person is as unique as anyone else.
As a girl on the autism spectrum, sensory issues are AWEFUL! People don’t get how bad they can be!
These parents are so awesome. I work with kids who have autism, so I'm very used to seeing and hearing about a lot of these behaviors. A lot of the time, it's really hard for parents to "admit" their kids have SIBs or aggressions, because they project their own moral feelings onto it. It's nice to see parents that are talking so openly about it and just being like yeah this is how it is. I also think it's important for parents to be able to say "yeah, it's hard caring for a kiddo with special needs, and that's okay." But so many parents don't ever feel like they can say anything like that.
yeah, there's a mom in my son's class who is a pediatrician and her son is solidly on the spectrum. hits, bites, spits, destroys property. she adamantly refuses to publicly admit her son is on the spectrum because she just can't handle the shame. I'm pretty much like, "sweetie, stop trying to hide it. the WHOLE world knows and your kid will be better off if you stop trying to pretend he's NT" but she just can't deal.
@@cometasporelcielobut it's not a "shame", having a son on the spectrum, or with disabilities in general: it's hard, of course, but if you feel ashamed of your kid, it means you feel guilty. And your kid is not a fault: is just a human being with special needs. I work with kids with special needs too, and I've seen parents who fiercely deny that their son/daughter has a disability; parents who think that they can "fix" their kid with therapies; parents stressed, exhausted, who can't manage that situation and doesn't have a supportive partner, or whose partner has left long time before and doesn't care at all.
But there are also parents who are understanding, loving, caring, despiting of the difficult condition: they carry on with strenght and resilience, and, overall, they ask for help and aren't alone.
These are some great parents. I love their honesty and the vulnerability they showed in this video. What a beautiful family!
This is one of those times I'd love to see an extreme home makeover happen. This family could benefit from soo much. I love that they've made their home really kid oriented.
They said that their house was set up specifically for the boys and that they got rid of traditional furniture for them
Huh? They already did. 🫤
I really like how the parents spoke about their own emotional regulation & how it's important not to let their feelings negatively affect the kids.
I LOVE the calm area in the bus. No matter where they go, they're safe to be themselves and do what they need to do. Massive props to mom, dad, and grandpa for making everything safe and accessible to the boys.
My sister was diagnosed over 20 years ago. Back then therapies and schools really worked to make the kids act "normal." I always hated it and was glad when we stopped trying to force that on her. Her needs are different, but they should be allowed and met. I'm so happy to see kids today getting much more acceptance and better treatments.
Things were much worse for autistic kids back then. I can attest to that, my grade school teachers tried to shame me in front of the class for my meltdowns. In middle school, I became so aggressive that they wanted to send me to a school for delinquents, but thankfully my mom had me sent to a school with an autism program and my behavior dramatically improved.
Amazing parents. It's an universal lesson in treating children with due respect and emotional intelligence ❤
I have a daughter with autism and her support needs are alot less and it's still so hard so these parents are literally angels, and so amazing.
those parents are abusers, they abuse by overprotection. You are doing to same to a lesser extent. Read Empty fortress and understand what you are doing to your child.
@@consumer614they are far better parents then most. I’m autistic and I wish I grew up with parents so accommodating. Take your BS out of here
@@consumer614are you autistic? Don't speak for us.
@@consumer614 what are you talking about? do you want them to hurt themselves or run outside and get run over by a car? they are doing their best to support their kids.
@@overgrownkudzu Discipline serves to prevent running in disobedience.
Sooo much respect for these parents. I have a high functioning son who was very nonverbal in the early days and ut was very hard having twins doubles it. Soo much respect and love for your family. Your sons are a special gift, my son is now 12 and as challenging as its been i wouldnt change a moment of it.
@@olioccasionallyanimates27 I'm autistic and we use high and low functioning, there's no need to correct anyone on that
@@anonymous-bb2dw I'm autistic too- to me the terms higher and lower support needs makes more sense and fits me better but Im now realizing it might not fit everybody so thank you!/gen /nm
@@anonymous-bb2dwthere is because it's offensive for us that have been humiliated our whole lives for being "low functioning" and so many other things.
@@olioccasionallyanimates27I've seen a lot of medium and high support needs autistic just like myself that don't like functioning labels. They're just a way to segregate us from "useful" autistics, because for others, higher support needs makes us a waste.
@@ibinkyz yeah- I completely get it and agree
You two should write a book or give seminars. You are both very articulate, organized, and practical. A great resource for others. It does take a team. Hugs to grandpa - he's living out his love for you.
These parents could be educators for other people learning about autism. Bravo to them for finding solutions and a safe environment for their children to grow up and learn. Kids don't come with manuals, yet these parents have loving worked hard to provide such a nurturing space. Amazing job, my hats are off to them
What an awesome family with two beautiful boys and BADASS parents! This father is a Marine AND a special needs dad? Wooo! These parents and grandfather deserve the World! Dominc and Emmet are so blessed!
My heart breaks for this couple. I don’t know how they do it. I hope they have plenty of support for their own mental and physical health.
These parents are so amazing!!! I absolutely am in awe of their strength and love for their children
I'm very impressed by everything the parents have done to adapt their house and car to support the kids.
I work with people with autism and other mental/intellectual disabilities. I think appropriate communication is one of the biggest challenges to approach. It's wonderful to see a family that has a safe area and audible buttons (alternative PECS), and it's especially encouraging to see that they are working toward being able to express emotions using icons/buttons. I hope for good things in Dominic and Emmet's development, and I wish for patience, love, and curiosity for their parents and all those who support them.
*autistic people (as you will notice if you read comments from all of us actual autistic people)
@@tieragibbs3045I’m autistic and it doesn’t matter to me. Not all autistic people/people with autism care.
As a 54-year-old autistic woman only diagnosed 2 years ago, as we say: If you've met one person with Autism, you've met one person with Autism.
My 9-yr-old Aspie nephew and I are incredibly different yet amazingly the same.
ASD lets me live life more deeply than most of the population ever will, but it needs ALOT of mental and physical downtime as a result.
I would love to follow Emmet and Dom's lives---thank you for letting us meet them and their amazing parents, Chris!
but does it really let you live more deeply? more richly? my parents and my two cousins are all on the spectrum and this is so obviously a net negative for them in spite of some positives that I refuse to have biological children. I will not inflict this on them.
aspie is an inaccurate term there is no way a 9 year old could be diagnosed with Asperger's it has not been a thing for the last 9 years also that term is offensive to the community
There are different levels of support needs depending on where on the spectrum an individual is. As an autistic woman myself with other neurodevelopmental disabilities and comorbid diagnosis - my also neurospicy husband and I decided early on (individually and solidified further once together) that children are not for us as we wouldn't be able to handle any of what comes with raising typical children, let alone the additional requirements of potentially having a high supports need child. I agree with the commenter that being a fairly low supports need autistic person (previously aspergers) brings a unique perspective and richness to life however society is yet to catch up on being all round inclusive and making it an enjoyable experience for me to interact with the world in a way that is viable for the highly sensitive person with neurological and sensory differences.
@@NeurospicyBee :) Thanks for the support, Bee! As a side note, my son is indeed on the spectrum, but we all try our best to manage together. Husband is NT.
Aspie/asperger is a nazi term just letting you know
Respect for grampa in raising his daughter by himself, and helping with his grandkids
I totally agree and was in the same situation myself my youngest is 19 now and I lost my dad last month but he was with me until the end
Wow. This family has left me speechless. How amazing are they?!? I am enamored with how they have completely changed their lives and home to benefit the safety and well being of the boys. What incredible humans
These little boys are beautiful. They are so fortunate to have such intelligent, loving, and well-informed parents. I wish all 5 of you the best. Thank you for sharing your life with us.
What a well adjusted, intelligent man! Patience, in this day and age, is worth its weight in gold. Keep fighting the good fight.
I really liked the interview! Emmet and Dominic have their own individual uniqueness and the parents are really amazing for accommodating all their needs, from safe spaces to communication buttons to bus and so on!
These are 2 really incredible loving parents. The dedication they have put into providing a good environment for their kids is awesome. These are people who have thought outside the box countless times to come up with a solution to make their & their kids lives easier. Also mad respect to the grandpa to step up and help them out. The fact that he has prior experience with special needs kids is just that much more perfect. Their kids may not fulfill the dreams and goals they originally hoped for but I think helping their kids develop and learn over the years will be much more rewarding to them in the long run.
I saw someone the other day saying that autistic people all generally have the same symptoms and I couldn't help but wildly disagree. As someone with autism, I can say I am nothing like my other autistic friends yet I am also very similar too. The list of symptoms for autism is so long and vast and, even then, we all experience and show symptoms in different ways. It annoys me when people think we are all the same because we are some of the most diverse people but we are all joined by one disorder which I think makes us feel like one big family.
It's right and it's wrong in a way. Yes we all have similar stuff in common because we have the same disorder, so you have to have key similarities with another person with the disorder to be diagnosed with the disorder, but there is also a lot of variation within autism.
That makes autism a difficult disorder for people to understand, in fact you can understand one part of the autism spectrum but be clueless about another part of the autism spectrum.
Autistic people can be so different from each other that they practically have different disabilities.
There are whole aspects of autism that some autistic people don't even have Some people don't even have a trace of common symptoms, like co ordination and balance difficulties and others who do.
For some people, they can process the sensory environment just fine most of the time, but certain things are too much, or certain emotions will make it hard to deal with it and others just have problems processing their sensory environment all the time.
Some people are very good at copying what other people do in social environments and then use that to try to fit in and there are others who don't try to do this to fit in and aren't as good at doing it when they do try.
I learned from Devon Price’s book, Unmasking Autism, that the physical structure of neurotypical brains (specifically the ways different parts are connected to each other) tend to be fairly similar to each other (all else being equal), but autistic brains are much more varied. They share the fact that they deviate from the neurotypical norm, but each autistic brain differs from that norm in different ways.
You're trans and autistic?
Those parents are so well eduvated and well spoken. They really educate you about all the trials of being a parent. They are exceptional in their love for their family and devotion and dedication to being the best they can be. I am in aw of them and wish I were such as lovely a person as each of them are. 24:52
What a gorgeous family. I LOVE how it's a team effort with grandpa being there. I wish more of us abided by "it takes a village." Not just for kids that might need extra support, but for all of us. I'm an autistic adult who had a really hard time during childhood. My mom was completely alone, taking care of me, and I was A LOT. Growing up in Eastern Europe where mental health wasn't a thing, this poor woman had to deal with me being kicked out of kindergarten my first week of being there. Cue to school, where I refused to sit down and would be pacing up and down the back of the classroom. She didn't even know what autism was. She'd get weekly calls from teachers blaming her for not keeping me in check because "how can someone with straight As be so mean and defiant to teachers?!" They would threaten me with expulsion and call it her fault for not knowing to "keep me in check" and not teach me basic civics. What strong and wonderful parents these people are for focusing on the utter joy and awe those kids have towards life. I see so much of myself in those kids. From the instinct to bash myself against something to "make it better" to the fascination of moving around and processing thoughts through roaming. Every single person in this video is a gem and I wish them the bestest of the best in this world :)
Hi Dominic! Hi Emmet! Your video was awesome, I loved it. You guys are so lucky, I really wish I had a twin but I don’t. I got so bored growing up, but you two always have someone to do stuff with. That must be great on rainy days haha. Thank your mom and dad too, because their insight into situations like yours can be very helpful to other moms and dads in similar circumstances. They seem like excellent, thoughtful parents.
I love how you spoke to them first! I was just thinking about not hearing more from them in the ways they communicate.
Sorry about how I word things. I have mental issues myself
@@amandahankins2731 You shouldn't say you're sorry. And you worded it just fine 🙂
Hello SBSK I really love the support work you do for individuals with additional needs Please carry on inspiring people with additional needs
I have a 3 yro and and 5 yro. Both autistic boys. They go in separate directions and do not play with each other. I am learning to understand who they are. But boy mamma needs some zen more than you know. This is definitely a hard life but your channel also gives me awareness that life could be worse. But the struggle is real!
Wow you're amazing ❤
Wow I loved hearing the parents perspectives! I can tell they both did a lot of self work and have a beautiful outlook on life
The parents and grandpa are amazing for the sacrifices they make for their kids!!!You are doing really good,there are no words to describe it...!
This family is doing an awesome job! What struck me the most is the dad talking about his journey through being stubborn, how the kids can “read” his mood coming in from work, and adjustments he’s made to his mental health to change things. That is hard for any adult to do (!) but more-so a parent with 2 busy boys with ASD.
What this mother said about autism being represented on TV is exactly how I feel. I completely agree with her. My daughter has autism and I have never seen anything in a movie or TV show that comes close to what her autism looks like. This mother really said it well. My heart goes out to these parents. I know how hard it is with one child with autism I can't imagine having two. 😔 💙
These parents are simply amazing.i salute them for their efforts to unsure the childrens safety and wellbeing
Props to them
I'm amazed at these parents' resilience to meet the boys' needs. ❤
This family deserves respite - given the severity of the twins' behavior they may be afraid to leave the children in the care of another. But boy - do they ever deserve it!
As a former Marine and a father to an autistic daughter I commend this man. I have twin girls - one autistic and the other is neurotypical
Phenomenal family. I love that grandpa is a source of love and support. What a loving family. 🙏🏾❤️
THIS is helpful representation! My son is 4 and level 2 autistic, so I am thankful that he doesn't self harm or have trouble eating, but his comprehension of spoken language is like a 1 year old. I love my son and I enjoy seeing what autism looks like in other children, so thank you! ❤
The dad's perspective about how becoming a dad has helped him in the Marines is very admirable to me. Patience is so important and intertwined with kindness
I am totally sensitive to noise and light as well. I am not autistic, but i totally empathize with you. People don't always understand how disturbing it can be to us. I live in a gated condo community, and one thing i love to do to chill at night, is to take a walk and look at the sky. And I really dislike my phone!
Thank you for Emmett and Dominic and their wonderful family for sharing their inspiring story with the community.
What fantastic parents. They are absolutely amazing people. I truly hope they stay so positive and I am so glad that the grandfather is there to help. ❤
Im autistic (low support needs) but I DO get overstimulated. If I had an extra room in my house, I’d make it a calm room. Paint the walls lavender or blue, have a cushioned chair, some glitter jars (voss bottles), a dedicated playlist for calming down, and fidget toys, and a sensory swing (designed for 110-130 lbs)
These parents are incredible. You are wonderful at meeting your children's needs
they are horrible ani-parents. They reinforce inadequate behaviours!
and you're still baiting. yawn.@@svetavinogradova4243
@@svetavinogradova4243They have autism, and that is the only way to keep them calm. If you actually had a doctor’s license, then you would be able to say that. My stepmother is in the medical field and knows very well not to abuse children, like you think is ‘correct.’
@@svetavinogradova4243how so
There is nothing wrong in asking children services for help. They can provide respite and or safety equipment etc
I've seen it work the other way as well and lead to breaking up loving families due to poverty issues or misunderstanding's . I also think that having a SWAT team break in to unsuspecting homes can be traumatic and unnecessary .
*in a perfect world.
That is a much needed asterisk to your statement. Especially in smaller cities, rural areas, and poorer communities, those in children's and family services do not have proper experience and / or knowledge of disabilities, neurodivergence, and mental illness. My autistic cousin was taken from my aunt specifically because my aunt asked for help. He couldn't handle school, and there was only one school in town. Next town that did have a school geared towards autistic and disabled children was an hour and a half drive away. Which for a single mom in a poor rural community with a severely autistic son, not exactly a realistic option. So she asked for help getting him special accommodations. The case worker did not understand why she didn't just force him to go to school with no aides or accommodations. Why she had taken him out of the incredibly abusive and controversial ABA therapy the only therapist in town offered. Why she didn't have a dining table, or why she had a massive gate on the entrance to her kitchen. All of these things that any parent of a severely autistic child could tell you immediately were her doing the best for her child, were deemed as neglect. My cousin was adopted TWICE by very wealthy families. One in the nearest big city, one in a nearby rural area. Both abused him quite openly. We were only able to get him back to us after the second family's mother beat him so severely with his own walking aide, there was no saying he fell down the stairs due to toe walking for the umpteenth time. He now has a permanent phsyical disability, and both him and my aunt have severe ptsd. It took a long time and a lot of PROPER therapy to make it so they could both do things independently. Because for a good near decade, they would BOTH have a meltdown if separated.
Good way to get investigated for no reason in some places. There’s no shame in needing the help, but the help available tends to be very ignorant.
@@Dizzydollie7 I can’t speak for the American system but here in the UK each Local Authority has a children services disabled children’s team which provides various support services such as short term breaks in the form of fun activities for the disabled child to overnight care so parents can have a break. I know this as I was a Social Worker in such a team.
In theory, yes, but those services are also very flawed and have a pechant for either separating the parents from their kids or doing nothing at all to help.
I so admire these parents. Well done!!! Beautiful boys!
I was a TA for special education and I absolutely loved the feeling of being able to make an impact on children’s education and also to be able to help their families by allowing them to trust me with their children. It’s hard finding people to trust watch your children especially special needs. I believe we all have our own quirks and sensory needs/dislikes. Thank you for sharing, god bless your family!
The Dad is full of wisdom. He says some heavy things.
What wonderful parents who really love their kids and to the grandfather for helping
As a teacher of children with special needs, his comment of how your energy is 100 percent read by kids with special needs is spot on. They can spot negativity or anything going on inside you instantly more than anyone one
I am currently crying right now. This is such a beautiful video with sweet kids. I have autism as well and these kids need extra care. I used to need extra care but I don’t anymore. I also used to not speak but now I can speak.
A lot of respect for these parents. They give up so much to create the best possible life for their kids. I’m glad they got through the difficult times in their marriage, they seem like a very good team
I’m really amazed at how these parents have adapted and managed to come up with so many both clever and compassionate accommodations.
Bless their hearts. They are adapting , educating themselves, and given the whole family dynamic the best quality of life possible. I applaud them for being so invested in giving their children all the tools that they know to keep every element as neutral sane as possible.
I’m a single widowed mother with an autistic and severely epileptic child, born with an extremely rare gene mutation. Diagnosed at 4 with Autism.
This video gives me great ideas of how to set the home up for success.
My son is fortunately verbal, 9 years old, and can use 3-4 word sentences.
I applaud the Marine father. As I am a disabled Veteran of Foreign War, from the tour in Iraq, April 2003, as a Combat Medic.
I was honorably discharged with PTSD, General Anxiety, ADHD, and Chronic Depression. I’m a Sensitive Parent/Person raising a Sensitive Child. His diagnoses of Epilepsy, Autism, ADHD, and Hypothyroidism, exacerbates my diagnoses. The VA has been extremely helpful for helping me gently medicate as to not make me overmedicated, yet able to minimize my triggers he may cause.
It’s no easy battle, raising an autistic child, in general, but especially coming from a military service, and then single.
Again, I applaud this family 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. His and my individual therapies has been the best investment of all.
Being in specialists. It’ll make the life easier and gives all parties a better quality of life.
Thank you for documenting this and other’s with special needs. It gives validation, education, and depth to the full awareness of each family’s unique struggles and also the beauty of it 💖
I feel these parents have grown being With their twins. I believe it takes very committed and willing parents to walk this very difficult path and to see such devotion. No question, my parents, would have institutionalized me. Very intense symptomoligy in both kids. So glad you are there in such a meaningful way. ❤❤❤❤❤
This is the most beautiful family. These parents are so incredible. I have a son with autism and know the struggles. To see the space they have created for these two amazing boys its such an awesome sight.❤
These little guys are too cute. Beautiful family.
What a tremendously devoted family. Thankyou for sharing your skills at being there for each other individually.
Loved hearing your story.
All the very best for the future
Janice 👵 🇬🇧 xxx
This dad had wonderful advice. Thank you.
Respect to both Mom and Dad because they will always be there for both their children
Amazing parents!!! Hats off
I'm not in a similar situation whatsoever, but there's some much I learn from listening to strong, well-spoken emotionally intelligent and resilient parents like these. You have two beautiful boys. Thank you for sharing your story ❤
what amazing parents!!! to give up a normal household to make your children are more comfortable with their needs. i admire this couple!!!
Mom & Dad you guys are just simply amazing parents and people. Dominic and Emmett you were the luckiest boys. You have a great support system forever. Kudos to Pap for being an amazing person also.
This dad is one of the most down to earth and HONEST people. That’s hard to find nowadays
All the best to this couple. They're on top of it.
Such great parents! Keep doing what you’re doing mom and dad :) I know your kids appreciate it although they can’t express it
I work with adults and kiddos that have crisis level behavioral issues. I love seeing self injurious behavior being explained. Crisis is exhausting for everyone involved and a very real part of supporting some individuals. I love seeing this family normalizing protective personal equipment and be honest about meltdowns and aggressive behavior. They kids arent "bad", theyre struggling to navigate their own emotions and sensory regulations.
Absolute Rockstar parents and I hope you guys keep advocating for individuals with crisis level responses. So many are written off so fast.
I love the way you make the boys feel loved
Ahh I love this family! I have an 8yr old son with autism as well. You two really inspired me! I especially love the set up of your home and will definitely be looking into incorporating more elements into our home for him. I actually feel ki da bad for not doing any of this wonderful stuff, we have a ton of "kid toys" he barely plays with. But making the home more sensory friendly and "fun" for him seems like the way to go. Thank you for sharing your family ❤
Thanks!
I have a child with autism and I love her more than anything but never in my life have I had to prioritize alone time more than I do now and that’s ok. It’s ok to need alone time and it’s healthy to balance your life in that way, it makes you a better and more patient parent in the end. ❤
+1
I can only imagine how dysregulated these poor parents nervous systems must be. I hope they get respite so that they have time to breathe and relax.
Wow. These parents are truly amazing.
These parents so obviously care for their kids and want the best for them. The CPS incident is scary.
I'm 18 years old and I have autism. I've had autism as long as I can remember, but I remember when I was younger, I hated my autism. I didn't want to be stereotyped by other kids I went to school with. But as I got older, I felt comfortable sharing about my autism cause I felt like people would realize I'm just another kid despite my autism.
These poor parents. You can see the pain in their eyes. I would never be able to deal with it.
These kids are really cute.
Emmett seems to be genuinely fascinated/absorbed with the cameras and the lighting.
My goodness 😳 Wonderful parents.. that's a lot ❤
First of all I would like to say thank you to family for there service to this country I can’t imagine how hard it must be on them sometimes raising two boys with special needs and being in the military much respect to them and I also it’s extremely beautiful that they created a safe space for there children to be safe during a meltdown
Thank you Chris keep up the best videos on RUclips! Love you brother!😊
Thank you for everything you’ve done throughout the years, I’ve followed you since day one and loved each and every interview. Such support, love! I learned so much! I wish children of Palestine had such support these days, at the same time I am watching your interviews that give me so much hope that world is not bad but then I see we can’t all have such support and my heart breaks again. Please keep up the good work and all my love to this family. 🙏💙
Loving seeing this children play and be themselves, so happy
Wonderful family! Stay strong mom and dad
These people are what I strive to be. My autistic kiddos are 9&4. Supports needs are night and day between them both and I try my best to educate myself on their needs and supply tools and a calm or stimulating environment.
I have so much admiration for these parents. Respect!!
These parents are doing a phenomenal job!
Thank you for your testimony and above all show that you can love your children despite their "quirks"
this is way more than quirks